Government and Politics of Guinea-Bissau

Government Type

Semi-presidential republic, multiparty since 1991, with executive power shared between a directly elected president and a prime minister who leads the government and is accountable to the unicameral National People's Assembly.

Administrative Divisions

9 regions (regioes, singular - regiao); Bafata, Biombo, Bissau, Bolama, Cacheu, Gabu, Oio, Quinara, Tombali; note - Bolama may have been renamed Bolama/Bijagos

Legal System

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Citizenship

Citizenship by birth: Yes Citizenship by descent only: Yes Dual citizenship recognized: No Residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Executive Branch

chief of state: Transitional President General Horta N'TAM (since 27 November 2025); note - on 26 November 2025 a group of senior military officers seized power, detained and deposed President Umaro Sissoco EMBALO (in office 27 February 2020 - 26 November 2025), suspended the electoral process, and closed the country's borders; N'TAM, previously army chief of staff, was sworn in the following day to lead a one-year transition head of government: Prime Minister Ilaidio Vieira TE (since 2 December 2025); he replaced Prime Minister Rui Duarte DE BARROS (20 December 2023 - 2 December 2025) cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president elections/appointments: under the suspended constitution, the president is directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in two rounds if needed for a five-year term and is eligible for a second term; the prime minister is appointed by the president; combined presidential and legislative elections were held on 23 November 2025, but the count was halted and the results annulled by the military takeover three days later; the transitional authorities have pledged to organize new elections at the end of the transition period election results: 2025 - voting took place on 23 November, with incumbent Umaro Sissoco EMBALO and opposition-backed candidate Fernando DIAS both claiming victory before official results were released; no final tally was certified. 2019 - Umaro Sissoco EMBALO was elected president in the 29 December 2019 runoff with 53.6% of the vote to 46.4% for Domingos Simoes PEREIRA

Legislative Branch

unicameral National People's Assembly or Assembleia Nacional Popular (102 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on 4 June 2023 (next to be held in 2027) election results: percent of vote by party - PAIGC 54.5%, Madem G15 28.9%, PRS 12.6%, other 4.0%; seats by party - PAIGC 54, Madem G15 29, PRS 12, other 7

Judicial Branch

Supreme Court or Supremo Tribunal da Justica (consists of nine justices appointed by the president and serve at his pleasure; final court of appeals in criminal and civil cases); Regional Courts (one in each of nine regions; first court of appeals for Sectoral Court decisions; hear all felony cases and civil cases valued at over $1,000); 24 Sectoral Courts (judges are not necessarily trained lawyers; they hear civil cases under $1,000 and misdemeanor criminal cases)

Political Parties

African Party for the Independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde or PAIGC [Carlos GOMES Junior]; Democratic Social Front or FDS [leader NA]; Electoral Union or UE [leader NA]; Party for Democratic Convergence or PCD [Victor MANDINGA]; Social Renovation Party or PRS [Alberto NAMBEIA]; Union for Change or UM [Jorge MANDINGA, president, Dr. Anne SAAD, secretary general]; United Platform or UP [coalition formed by PCD, FDS, FLING, and RGB-MB]; United Popular Alliance or APU [leader NA]; United Social Democratic Party or PUSD [Francisco Jose FADUL]

Head of State

Transitional President Horta N'TAM (since 27 November 2025) General Horta N'Tam, formerly head of the armed forces general staff, was sworn in as transitional president on 27 November 2025, a day after a military takeover suspended the electoral process and removed President Umaro Sissoco EMBALO from office. The military leadership announced a transitional period of one year before a return to constitutional rule. Umaro Sissoco EMBALO had served as president since 27 February 2020, following his victory in the December 2019 runoff election. His term was marked by repeated political crises, including the dissolution of parliament in both 2022 and 2023 and several reported coup attempts. The presidential and legislative elections held on 23 November 2025 were annulled by the new military authorities before official results were proclaimed.

Head of Government

Prime Minister Ilídio Vieira Té A former finance minister, he was named head of government in December 2025 to lead a transitional administration installed after the November 2025 military takeover that removed President Umaro Sissoco Embaló. He succeeded Braima Camará, who had served as prime minister since June 2025, and Rui Duarte de Barros, who held the post from December 2023.

Elections

Presidential and legislative elections were last held on 23 November 2025, but official results were never announced. On 26 November 2025, senior army officers seized power, suspended the electoral process, closed the borders and detained President Umaro Sissoco Embaló, who had been seeking a second term. Both Embaló and opposition-backed candidate Fernando Dias had claimed victory before the vote count was halted. The coup leaders, organized as a "High Military Command for the Restoration of Order," installed General Horta N'Tam as transitional president on 27 November 2025 for a one-year period, promising fresh elections at the end of the transition. A transitional government headed by a civilian prime minister was subsequently appointed. The previous legislative elections were held on 4 June 2023, when an opposition coalition won a majority in the 102-seat National People's Assembly; that body was dissolved by presidential decree in December 2023 following an attempted coup, and long-delayed replacement elections were ultimately folded into the November 2025 vote. The most recent completed presidential election was held in two rounds on 24 November and 29 December 2019.

Election Results

Percent of vote by party - PAIGC 54.5%, Madem G15 28.9%, PRS 12.6%, other 4.0%; seats by party - PAIGC 54, Madem G15 29, PRS 12, other 7. These results reflect the March 2019 legislative elections, in which the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) secured a commanding majority in the 102-seat National People's Assembly, marking a significant consolidation of support for the long-dominant party amid a period of ongoing political instability in the country.

Constitution

16 May 1984, amended 4 May 1991, 4 December 1991, 26 February 1993, 9 June 1993, and 1996

Independence

24 September 1973 (unilaterally declared by Guinea-Bissau); 10 September 1974 (recognized by Portugal)

National Holiday

Independence Day, 24 September (1973)

International Organization Participation

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Henrique Adriano DA SILVA; note - his address is 15929 Yukon Lane, Rockville, MD 20855 mailing address: P. O. Box 33813, Washington, DC 20033 telephone: [1] (301) 947-3958 FAX: [1] (202) 347-3954

U.S. Diplomatic Representation

the US Embassy suspended operations on 14 June 1998 in the midst of violent conflict between forces loyal to then President VIEIRA and military-led junta; US Embassy Dakar is responsible for covering Guinea-Bissau: telephone - [221] 823-4296; FAX - [221] 822-5903

Capital City

Bissau

Location

11 51 N, 15 35 W

Time Difference

UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

History

The meaning of Bissau is uncertain, it might be an alternative name for the Papel people who live in the area of the city of Bissau

U.S. Embassy Dakar Route des Almadies – B.P. 49 Dakar, Senegal Telephone: 221 33-879-4000 Emergency after-hours telephone: 221 33-879-4444 Regional Security Office: 221 33-879-4420 Facsimile: 221 33-879-4050

Military Branches

People's Revolutionary Armed Force (FARP): Army, Navy, National Air Force (Forca Aerea Nacional); Presidential Guard

Service Age and Obligation

18-25 years of age for selective compulsory military service (Air Force service is voluntary); 16 years of age or younger, with parental consent, for voluntary service